Pakistan has shot down two Indian military aircraft that entered Pakistani airspace, and took two Indian pilots into custody, Pakistani officials said on Wednesday.
It came a day after Indian warplanes entered Kashmir airspace and struck a militant training camp for the first time since 1971 when the two nuclear-armed neighbours where in conflict.
India claimed that the air strikes were targeting Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which have claimed responsibility for the terror attack that took place on 14 February killing 40 Indian people in Kashmir, saying that JeM was planning to conduct more terror attacks.
During a press conference after the incident, the Pakistan military spokesperson, Asif Ghafour, mentioned that they do not intend to escalate the situation, but they were showing that Pakistan can respond.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs’s spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar, said: “India has yet to ascertain that the missing pilot is in Pakistan’s custody” during a media briefing.
“Against this counter terrorism action, Pakistan has responded this morning by using its Air Force to target military installations on the Indian side. Due to our high state of readiness and alertness, Pakistan’s attempts were foiled successfully,” Kumar added.
The Pakistani Prime Minister Imran khan declared in a televised address that they are ready to cooperate with India to find the responsible behind the February terror attack, and to deescalate the intentions between them as there is no beneficiary falls on both nations from wars.
Pakistan’s action took place a few hours after Gafoor warned that “it would respond at a time and place of its own choosing,” adding, “We will surprise you, wait for that surprise, response will come differently.”
